GADGETWISE; The Alarm That Says You Are About to Lose Your Phone

By ERIC A. TAUB

Published: July 1, 2010

What happens when you have misplaced your iPhone or Android? You know the feeling - panic. And so many of us can be seen tightly grasping our phones. Maybe we want to be quick on the draw in case a call comes in. Or maybe the cost of replacing the do-everything smartphone is too high. Or maybe the phones have just become a part of our selves.

All of this is why a new product from Zomm may wind up hitting a nerve. A small electronic disc that fits on a key ring, the product, also called the Zomm, connects to a phone via Bluetooth. Separate the two devices by more than 30 feet, and the Zomm first vibrates, then flashes and then screams.

The Zomm can also be used as an external speaker (if you keep your phone in a pocket or purse), a panic alarm or to automatically notify 911 if you can't speak.

Created by a husband and wife in Tulsa, the product shines in its execution. While many mom-and-pop inventions often look as if they were assembled and designed in someone's unfinished basement, the Zomm looks to me to be the result of some very careful work. The design is contemporary, the packaging attractive, the instructions clear and the setup simple.

To activate the Zomm, you charge it for a few hours and then download an activation app. Once you connect the unit through USB to your PC, the app runs through the setup routine. A video automatically pops up that gives you some simple steps on how to use the device.

The Zomm works as advertised. But there are still a few hiccups along the way. To turn the unit into a panic alarm requires holding down the button for about 10 seconds, too long, in my opinion, if a panic-inducing situation is really present. And there's no way to alter the 30-foot distance before the alarm goes off; depending on where you are, 30 feet could be too far.

The Web site is attractively designed, but has several bad links and misspelled words, and the setup video is also used as an opportunity to sell the new customer two ''free'' replacement units over two years. But ''free'' means $19.95, plus shipping and handling. That's not ''free.''

If you're considering the product mainly as a way to prevent you from losing the phone, the cost-benefit ratio may not be in your favor if your contract will soon expire. At $80 per unit (buy from Amazon.com and save the $10 shipping fee), plus $19.95 for the extended warranty, plus around $10 for the two lost units, and you could spend as much as $120, to save replacing a phone that could otherwise cost you $200.

But if you need a digital tap on your shoulder or a shout in your ear to remind you not to walk away from your phone, the Zomm deserves a look.

This is a more complete version of the story than the one that appeared in print.